Miss Finland dies aged 22
Champion race mare and five-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) has died at Arrowfield aged 22. “It's a very sad day for everyone involved with the farm. She was probably the best horse we've ever had. She gave us a lot of joy and some irreplaceable memories,” John Messara said.
“You can never forget when she won a Golden Slipper and a VRC Oaks in the same year, and both very convincingly. That's some achievement. She was a very, very special girl.” Miss Finland won on debut at two, then won the Listed Talindert Stakes at her second start. She placed in the G1 Blue Diamond before winning the G1 Golden Slipper two starts later.
At three, she won two Group races before adding the G1 Thousand Guineas, then was sixth in the G1 Cox Plate before winning the G1 Victoria Oaks. In the autumn she won the G1 Australian Guineas and the G1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes (now the Vinery Stud Stakes), and was crowned Champion 3YO. She returned at four to win the G2 Memsie Stakes and run fourth in the G1 Cox Plate. She retired with 11 wins from 26 starts and over $4.6 million.
At stud, she produced seven winners led by G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), dam of Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible). Miss Finland also produced four stakes-placed winners including G1 JJ Atkins Plate-placed Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}), G1 Spring Champion Stakes-placed Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Group 3-placed Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom {USA}) and Listed placed Woodbine (Hussonet {USA}). Her city winner Nordicus (Dundeel {NZ}) is a sport horse with TTR writer Kit Gow.
Racing Queensland to get new board structure
In a media release by the Queensland government, the Crisafulli Government announced they had accepted or accepted in-principle 105 recommendations made in the Review of the Racing Act 2002. This includes changes to the board of Racing Queensland to ensure the board has a representative from each of the racing codes, as well as from country racing and a specialist in integrity.
“The Crisafulli Government is delivering its plan for the future of Queensland racing and that starts with these changes to the Board which will oversee the industry reforms,” Minister Mander said in the release.
“Racing’s impact on the state is now close to $2.5 billion per year and is responsible for around 14,500 full-time jobs for Queenslanders, so it’s vital we ensure it will grow and prosper well into the future. During the Review process, we listened to the racing community from across the state and determined the changes that needed to be made, including governance as a matter of urgency.
“It’s imperative we have a Board that not only represents the three codes of racing, but also represents the entire racing community, particularly country racing. We are determined to have these reforms implemented as soon as possible, because we want a stronger and safer racing industry that benefits participants, animals, stakeholders and every Queenslander.”
Nolen handed 24-meeting suspension
Jockey Luke Nolen was handed a 24-meeting suspension after pleading guilty to an improper riding charge at the Pakenham meeting on Thursday night. “Rider Luke Nolen (Irreverent) pleaded guilty to a charge of improper riding under the provisions of AR 131(a), in that after passing the winning post, he turned his horse's head out and directed it out towards The Benchmark, making heavy contact with that gelding,” said the stewards report.
“In assessing penalty, account was taken of his guilty plea, the circumstances surrounding the incident, his good record, the significant nature of the contact and the seriousness of the charge.” The race was won by Lachlan Neindorf-ridden 3-year-old gelding The Benchmark (Frosted {USA}) from Nolen’s Irreverent (I Am Invincible) by a nose.
Brisbane meetings under threat of wet weather
With 45 mm forecast for Saturday and another 60 mm on Sunday, several of Queensland’s race meetings are likely to be abandoned. “Instead, and if some or all of the meeting is lost, RQ will appropriately add/reprogram some of its races to meetings next week,” Racing Queensland senior racing manager Ross Gove told racenet.com.au.
The Gold Coast have already moved their meeting to the Polytrack, while Eagle Farm are hopeful their good drainage will help. “We just came off the track and it's about a Soft 6, which hasn't changed from this morning,” track manager Ross Smith said on Friday afternoon.
“At the moment we've got no issues at all with the track. We put a chemical out yesterday called Terafirm to try and help keep the leaf dry and pull the water through the profile if we do get the heavy rain. The leaf is dry out there at the moment so that's a big plus for us. We've just got to see what happens overnight.”
Capitalist juvenile wins at Pakenham
On Thursday night at Pakenham, Capitalist 2-year-old gelding Rich On Bubbles won the opening race for the Hayes brothers. He had debuted in the spring in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, running last, and was resuming here.
Sold by Kingstar Farm to Lindsay Park for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Rich On Bubbles is the third foal of Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom). She won the Listed Debutant Stakes and her first foal is stakes placed Stoli Bolli (Deep Field).
Rich On Bubbles as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ole Kirk adds winner number 31
Last season’s Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added winner number 31 when 3-year-old gelding Kirkall won at Tamworth on Friday for trainer Kris Lees. Purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $35,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Torryburn Stud, Kirkall is a half-brother to Group 3-placed Three Beans (Deep Field).
Dubious adds juvenile winner at Mackay
On Friday, Dubious added a juvenile winner when 2-year-old gelding Dub Stepping won at Mackay for trainer Tom Button. He was having his second start. His trainer purchased him from Waylon J Stud for $30,000 at the Capricornia Yearling Sale.
From the family of I Am Invincible, Dub Stepping is the second foal and second winner for Stella Maris, a winning full sister to Listed placed Thy Kingdom Come (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Listed-winning juvenile purchased by OTI
OTI have purchased Listed Counties Challenge Stakes winner De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) and the 2-year-old filly will join Chris Waller’s stable. “OTI have been interested in her the whole way through, but post Karaka Millions, we decided to sell her early, simple as that,” trainer Johno Benner told Loveracing.nz.
“She goes to Chris Waller and she will head to Australia on Sunday. They've got to train-on as 3-year-olds, but she's definitely very good and a lovely filly to have around, but money talks at the end of the day. She's got a great brain and hopefully she acquits herself really well in Australia.”
Unbeaten Lara Antipova set for Group 2
Saturday’s G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes will be the target for unbeaten filly Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) before a tilt at the G1 Sistema Stakes. “She’s in great form and has freshened really well since Wellington,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
Lara Antipova | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“She had an exhibition gallop last week at Tauranga and worked well on the course proper at Matamata this week, she’s in really good order. The weather forecast is a bit of a query, there’s no good things in racing and there’s some talented fillies there, but she has been faultless so far.”
Wyndspelle dies
Wyndholm Park Stud’s owner Kim McKellar confirmed the stallion Wyndspelle (NZ) died from injuries sustained after being frightened by a kangaroo. “He was a gentleman of a horse,” owner Jen Campin told Loveracing.nz.
“Wyndspelle was more than a racehorse and stallion to me, he represented four decades in this industry. His loss for me is profound.” The son of Iffraaj (GB) won the G1 Captain Cook Stakes and at stud, the third season sire has six winners.
Wyndspelle (NZ) | Image courtesy of Wyndholm Park
Self Improvement to take on Riyadh Dirt Sprint
Hong Kong jockey Jerry Chau will ride Self Improvement (Deep Field) in Saturday night’s G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. “I’m very excited. It’s a new racecourse to ride and it’s a big race. I will enjoy riding there,” Chau told scmp.com.
“I spoke to Manfred (Man) and he said the horse settled pretty well and has handled the track pretty well. The horse has galloped well there and his weight is back to his normal weight. Everything sounds good and I can’t wait to go there and get on him.”
Self Improvement won the G3 Korea Sprint in September and most recently won a trial in Hong Kong before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Vale John Shirreffs
A trainer built equal parts brilliant and idiosyncratic, John Shirreffs passed away quietly in his sleep overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. He was 80 years old. He leaves behind the kind of record unmatched by all but a select few.
At the summit of Shirreffs's mammoth achievements was of course Zenyatta–elegant and imperious, who between 2007 and 2010 achieved the near impossible: 19 straight wins and 13 Grade I victories including back-to-back Breeders' Cup crowns, one of them a Classic.
Zenyatta was just denied an exquisite send-off in the Breeders' Cup Classic of 2010, her customary late charge customarily irresistible–irresistible to all but Blame, who derailed history by a head. The deflated echoes from the tens of thousands at Churchill Downs that day could have filled an airship.
He started out on his own in 1976, beginning a career that would see him train nearly 600 winners and earn some $58 million. Shirreffs trained an upset winner of the Kentucky Derby, Giacomo, in 2005. In 2009, he conditioned a companion Breeders' Cup winner to Zenyatta, Life Is Sweet in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic.
“The industry has lost one of the most amazing trainers ever,” said jockey Mike Smith, who enjoyed so many great days with Shirreffs. He rode Zenyatta in 17 of her 20 races.
“Not only was he great horseman; he was a great man. Boy, he was, whew… it's hard. He meant everything to me, man, not just in my career but in my personal life. We were very, very close. He was big John, man. I'm just thinking about his whole crew. I just can't imagine his barn and what they're going through right now. He meant so much to them as well.”
Shamalza tops final day of Goffs February Sale
Well-bred Aga Khan mares dominated on the second and final day of the Goffs February Sale, with Alex Elliott going to €190,000 (AU$319,000) to secure Shamalza (Lope De Vega), who the bloodstock agent said would continue her career for Valmont and trainer Ralph Beckett.
Shamalza was the highest-priced lot on Thursday and cemented a memorable renewal of the February Sale at Kildare Paddocks. The turnover for the two-day sale climbed by a massive 63% to €6,301,400 (AU$10.59 million) while the average was also on the rise by 37% to €24,615 (AU$41,400) and the median by 48% to €14,750 (AU$24,800). The clearance rate of 68% was also up by 1% on last year.
“What a start to the new year. Goffs February has always been a first choice for so many at this time of year and, this year's renewal has recorded its highest turnover since 2007 when the sale was a four-day affair with over double the number of lots catalogued. However we frame it – premier, leading, whatever – what is beyond dispute is that we have enjoyed a sale that has exceeded expectations and has returned a turnover that is double last year and significantly ahead of any other sale this month,” Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said.
Afleet Alex dies aged 24
Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet), the 2005 Champion 3-Year-Old Male and winner of both the GI Preakness and GI Belmont Stakes, was euthanized on February 6 due to the infirmities of old age. He was 24.
Afleet Alex will be buried at Gainesway. Retired to stud at Gainesway in 2006, he remained as a resident pensioner since 2022.
An impressive 5 1/4-length winner of the GII Sanford Stakes, he then took the GI Hopeful Stakes before closing his season with a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup' Juvenile.
Afleet Alex punched his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby with an eight-length victory in the GII Arkansas Derby, then he finished third on the First Saturday in May.
Afleet Alex took the GI Preakness Stakes, delivering one of the most iconic performances in Triple Crown history. In the stretch, Afleet Alex clipped heels with rival Scrappy T causing him to stumble badly. Despite nearly falling to his knees, Afleet Alex recovered and powered down the Pimlico stretch to win by 4 3/4 lengths.
Afleet Alex then confirmed his status as the top 3-year-old of his class in the GI Belmont Stakes, scoring by seven lengths. That effort secured him the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male of 2005.
“Afleet Alex's Preakness Stakes remains one of the most incredible displays of athleticism and heart I have ever seen. He passed that same determination and talent down to his offspring,” said Gainesway owner Antony Beck. “A true champion in every sense and his presence at the farm will be deeply missed.”
Afleet Alex retired to Gainesway in 2006, where he proved to be a versatile sire over 15 seasons. He sired over 50 stakes winners with progeny earnings surpassing $54.8 million. His stallion career was highlighted by the 2010 GI Travers Stakes, where three runners from his debut crop ran in the 'Midsummer Classic', including winner Afleet Express. He also sired Breeders' Cup winners Texas Red (Juvenile) and Afleet Again (Marathon), as well as Canadian Champion Skywire (Canada). Other top-level performers included Grade I winners Iotapa, Materiality, Sharla Rae, and Dublin.
